THIEVES are targeting Woodley’s main shopping precinct on an almost daily basis – on one occasion stealing £1,200 of beauty goods.

Now traders in the town will meet local police officers and town representatives on Thursday, including PC Jen Banfield, neighbourhood specialist officer for Woodley, and Liz Creighton, town centre manager, to thrash out how best to tackle the problem.

On Friday, February 1, £1,200 of products were stolen from Superdrug in Crockhamwell Road, police confirmed.

Thieves have also targeted other shops, including Boots and Robert Dyas. But there does not appear to be any link between the crimes, said Mrs Creighton.

She said: “It seems to be that the precinct is being targeted and we have alerted the police. At the moment shops are being targeted almost daily, and certainly every other day.

“The thieves are all different groups, ages and genders. If it was just one gang we would know what to do, but it is not.”

The traders’ forum, to discuss the issue, will take place in Waitrose in the town centre at 11am.

Since September 2007, some shops in Woodley have joined a “shop watch” scheme, where walkie-talkies have direct links to local PCSOs. However, these shops are still being targeted.

PC Banfield said: “Woodley town centre at the moment is suffering with shoplifters and the team are keen to know of anyone who is noticed to be acting suspiciously while shopping.

“The shop watch radios are in use and we have caught three or four shoplifters using this system which allows the shops to alert the team quickly when crime occurs.

“Larger shops and shops selling beauty products and aftershave sets are also being targeted. High visibility patrols are ongoing.”

Burglaries are also a problem in Woodley, as the Evening Post has previously reported. Recently Woodley’s PCSOs Natalie Buckett and Clare Towse stood in the precinct handing out crime advice to passers-by.

PC Banfield said: “Our main area of concern is the burglaries to homes. There have been a rise recently in the Woodley area and the majority of the burglaries are committed by gaining entrance via the letterbox.

“An instrument, like metal piping or a coat hanger is put through the letterbox and the handle pulled down from the inside.”

She urged people to:

- Lock their doors from the inside;

- Take keys upstairs with them;

- Not to leave anything on display that can be seen through windows or the letterbox.

For more advice, contact the Woodley Neighbourhood Team on 08458 505 505.